Tag Archives: Mussels

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Dash gets around and he loves noticing Nature. At the recent minus tides, Dash pointed out this Abalone which had been left high and kind-of-dry during the low tide event.

The Abalone looked healthy. It was waiting for the tide to return and perhaps bring some kelp for it to eat. I see another Abalone in this photo, under the reddish kelp in the upper right corner.

In the next photo, there is a lot going on! Chris photographed an Abalone with a Crab possibly trying to attack it. A big Ocher Star, Mussels, Purple Urchins, Turban Snails, and a Sea Anemone. Looks like a party, an intertidal party!

And here's a bonus photo of Dash, enjoying the Douglas Iris blooming at Gualala Point Regional Park. This time he was with his dad, John Wall.

Thanks to Chris and John for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

We had rain yesterday late afternoon. 0.15 inches in our rain gauge, 49.70 inches season to date. 50 inches is our average so this is good news for those of us on wells.  Today is sunny but there is a very strong breeze. There is no reason to brush your hair if you are outside today on the windy Mendonoma Coast!

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Mark Simkins and Kitty Wolfe were at The Sea Ranch when they saw this at low tide - thousand of mussels.

Low Tide at Shell Beach - thousands of Mussels by Mark Simkins

Other creatures to look for are Sea Urchins. Craig Tooley took this photo.

Sea Urchins by Craig Tooley

And Sea Stars, this one photographed by Noel Olson. It is an Ochre Sea Star.

Summer Cheerleader - an Ochre Sea Star by Noel Olson

Thanks to Mark, Craig, and Noel for allowing me to share their photos with you here. Tide pooling is a Coast tradition.

To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com.

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Mark Simkins photographed a Sea Star on the move. It is reaching, perhaps, for a mussel. 

Sea Stars, more commonly called Starfish, move more quickly than you might expect. They have hundreds of tube feet on their undersides. Sea Stars are in the family Asteroidea. They are related to Sand Dollars, Sea Urchins and Sea Cucumbers. 
Low tide is a great time to see some, as Peggy Berryhill photographed above.
Thanks to Mark and Peggy for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Low tide is the time to head for the tide pools of the Mendonoma Coast. Peggy Berryhill recently did just that. And look at the beauty she found. In the photo below is an Ochre Sea Star, one of the more commonly seen. It looks like it is wearing fine silver jewelry. Also in this photo are Mussels and Goose Barnacles.

 And here you will see Sea Anemones. They eat small fish and shrimp.

Next low tide might entice you to discover your own wonderful sightings.

Thanks to Peggy for allowing me to share her photos with you here. Listen to Peggy on KGUA radio, 88.3 FM. Here's the link to find out more: http://www.kgua.org/